Agronomic and remedial benefits and risks of applying biochar to soil: Current knowledge and future research directions

Saranya Kuppusamy; Palanisami Thavamani; Mallavarapu Megharaj; Kadiyala Venkateswarlu; Ravi Naidu

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.018

Agronomic and remedial benefits and risks of applying biochar to soil: Current knowledge and future research directions

Environ Int. 2016 Feb:87:1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.018. Epub 2015 Nov 28.

Authors

Saranya Kuppusamy¹, Palanisami Thavamani², Mallavarapu Megharaj³, Kadiyala Venkateswarlu⁴, Ravi Naidu²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation (CERAR), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia; Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment (CRC CARE), PO Box 486, Salisbury South, SA 5106, Australia.
² Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment (CRC CARE), PO Box 486, Salisbury South, SA 5106, Australia; Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
³ Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of Environment (CRC CARE), PO Box 486, Salisbury South, SA 5106, Australia; Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Faculty of Science and Information Technology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: megh.mallavarapu@newcastle.edu.au.
⁴ Formerly Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur 515055, India.

PMID: 26638014
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.018

Abstract

'Biochar' represents an emerging technology that is increasingly being recognized for its potential role in carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, renewable energy, soil improvement, crop productivity enhancement and environmental remediation. Published reviews have so far focused mainly on the above listed agronomic and environmental benefits of applying biochar, yet paid little or no attention to its harmful effects on the ecological system. This review highlights a balanced overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the pyrolysis process of biochar production, end-product quality and the benefits versus drawbacks of biochar on: (a) soil geochemistry and albedo, (b) microflora and fauna, (c) agrochemicals, (d) greenhouse gas efflux, (e) nutrients, (f) crop yield, and (g) contaminants (organic and inorganic). Future research should focus more on the unintended long-term consequences of biochar on biological organisms and their processes in the soil.

Keywords: Agronomic benefits; Biochar; Environmental impacts; Pollutants; Pyrolysis; Soil amendment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Agriculture / methods*
Carbon Sequestration*
Charcoal / chemistry*
Ecosystem
Environmental Restoration and Remediation* / methods
Environmental Restoration and Remediation* / trends
Risk Assessment
Soil / chemistry*

Substances

Soil
biochar
Charcoal